Burzum mastermind Varg Vikernes has been found guilty of inciting racial hatred and exalting war crimes in France. The sentence was handed down almost exactly a year after Vikernes and his wife were originally arrested for suspicion of planning a "massacre."

Varg Vikernes' legal problems in France simply started with the massacre plot, but after he and his wife were released from custody after 48 hours due to lack of evidence, Varg was still ordered to stand trial for inciting racial hatred and glorifying war crimes via an internet blog. Vikernes has denied writing such blogs, claiming that “at any given moment, 350 people [are] pretending to be Varg Vikernes on Facebook. Anybody can very easily put up a blog.”

According to Norwegian news source The Local, Vikernes was given a six-month suspended sentence and a fine of €8,000 (roughly $10,900). Neither Varg nor his lawyer were present in court when the decision against Vikernes was handed down.

Along with Burzum, Varg Vikernes is best known for murdering Mayhem bandmate Øystein ‘Euronymous’ Aarseth. Vikernes fatally wounded Euronymous with a total of 23 knife wounds, which caused Vikernes to spend 15 years in prison. The musician has also been found guilty of church arson in his home country of Norway.